Car-seat.



,PATBNTED- OCT. 13, 190s.

No. 741,033.l

2 SHEETS-SHEIET 1.

HQ MODEL.v

PATBNTED. OCT., 13, 1903.

Has. HALE.

GAR SEAT. ALIPLIATION FILED JAN.14,`1903.

. asuma-SHEET m R0 MODEL.

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'Unirse STATES Patented october 13, 190s.-

PATENT lannion.

CAR-SEAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,033, dated October13, 1903-.

Application iiled January 14, 1903` Serial No. 138.979. (No model.)

To all whom, t nfl/tty concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. HALE, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia,State of Pennsylvania, have inventedan Improvement inOar-Seats, of which the following is a speci- 'catiorL My invention hasreference to vcar-seats; and it consists ofcertain improvements whichare fully set forth in the following specification and shown in theaccompanying drawings, Which form a part thereof.

My invention has vfor its object certain improvements in that class ofcar-seats in which the back is reversible by being guided from one sideof the seat-frame to the other without revolving on the pivot, and, morespecifically, the objects are to cause the seat-back to be elevated uponits supporting devices to a greater extent when in its middle positionthan at its extreme position, so that greater clearance Abetween thebottom of the seatbaok and the seat-cushion is secured during thereversing operation; also to so arrange the parts that the seat-back maybe fitted close to the seatcushion at its extreme positions and whollyclear the cushion while being reversed; also to reduce the weight uponthe end guides which support the seat-back in its extreme position at atime when said seat is being shifted between said extreme positions, soas to make the reversal of the car-seat more easily' performed, and tosecure other advantages referred to hereinafter.

In carrying out my invention I provide the ends of the seat-frame withtransverse guides, preferably somewhat curved, and upon these arearranged guide-brackets which support the weight of the seat-back in itsextreme position and steady it during transition, and in the preferredform of my invention said brackets are provided with radial guide-armsadapted to sockets in the seat-back'and upon which said back is guidedin its vertical adjustment. Combined with .the foregoing parts arerocker-arms pivoted to the end frames and jointed at their upper ends tothe bottom of the seat-back, preferably by detachable bearings, wherebythe curvature of the arctraveled by said upper ends of the 5orocker-arms is greater than the curvature traveled by the brackets, sothat in the travel and guiding brackets; .tive .ViewV showing theconstruction of the ofthe brackets and seat-back from one side of theseat to the other the seat-back is bodily elevated by the rocker-arms tosuch a degree as to be materially elevated upon the brackets at theintermediate portion of their travel.

My invent-ion insures greater ease intaking off or detaching the backsof car-seats, and they may be locked or non-detachable except whenraised to intermediate position in reversing.

Myinvention also comprehends adjustable lids or plates arranged on eachend of the seat structure and adapted to close the4 space intermediatebetween the seat-cushion and the end frames of the seat, said adjustableportions being adapted to be raised automatically by and to permit thetravel of the guide-brackets and rocker-arms.

Myinvention also .comprehends minor features of construction, which,together with those above mentioned,` will be better under stood byreference to the drawings, in which--V Figure lis a transverse sectionalelevation on line a'. .fr of Fig. 2 adjacent to one end of the seat andwith the cushion and back indicated in dotted lines.AV Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal section on line y y of Fig. l through the seatwhen the seat-back is in its intermediate position. Fig. 3 is aperspective'view of one of the seat-back supporting Fig. t is aperspechinge-joint-between the seat-back and rockerarms, and Fig. 5 is across-section showing theadj ustable shielding-lids between theseatcushion and end frames.

A represents the end frames and are provided With the curved guides A'.These end frames are connected together by the longitudinal bars B, asusual.

C represents rocker-frames for carrying the seat-cushion Ozand have thecam-surfaces C', adapted to rest upon the socket parts B', extendingfrom 'the end frames and receiving the bars B. The shifting of theserockerframes causes the seat-cushion tobe shifted and also tilted in theusual manner.

' D is a rocker-shaft pivoted between the end frames A and has securedto it the rockerarms D, which are extended below and provided withlateral pins d,extendinginto ver- IOC tical slots c in the rocker-framesC, so that when the said rocker-arms D are oscillated the seat-cushionis rocked and tilted.

E represents sliding brackets having the guides e, adapted to the curvedguides A' and at their upper ends extended laterally and then upward ina long guide-arm E',which fits into holes or apertures Z in the frame ofthe seat-back L. The upper ends of the rocker-arms D extend throughopenings E2 in the sliding brackets and are provided with socketsf andlateral pins H, the latter being adapted to slots h in the guide-armsE', so that when the sliding brackets are moved the rocker-arms D aremoved also. The moving of these rocker-arms performs two resultsnamely,the shifting of the seat-cushion and the elevating of the seat-backLasit is shifted toward a vertical line (dotted lines, Fig. l) and itssubsequent lowering. This latter result is accomplished by providing thelower corners of the seat-back with heel-plates G, having bearings Fadapted to the socketsf in the upper ends of the rocker-arms D, Fig. Ll.These heel-plates also have slots g, through which the guide-arms E passand are guided.

It will now be understood that by pushing over the seat-back L inreversing the seat the sliding brackets E are moved over their guidesA', and at the same time the rocker-arms D are rocked. As the .arcsdescribed by the ends of these arms D have a shorter radius than that ofthe curved guides A and as the fulcrum-point Dl of the said arms D ishigher than the center of curvature of thc guides A', it is evident thatthe effect of said arms is to elevate the seat-back upon its guide-armsE in the act of reversing the seat-back and then lower it down again incompleting its travel. In this way great clearance is secured betweenthe seat cushion and back. A guide A' of less curvature may be employed,and much of the weight and friction is removed from the guides A andtransferred to the rock-shaft. This latter results in a more perfectaction and easy manipulation in reversing the back. The durability1 ofthe seat is increased, wear on the upholstery is much reduced, and theback is enabled to fit down close to the seat-cushion in its extremepositions, while clearing it in all others. The seat-cushion may also begiven greatercurvature and spring action, because of the greaterclearance of the seat-back in passing over its middle portion which ispossible.

The curvature of the guide A is only required to be just sufficient togive the proper obliquity to the seat-back, and hence may be made in anyshape or form that will properly guide the sliding bracket E. Once themotion of the back begins the weight thereof is almost Wholly removedfrom the brackets E, and consequently they slide with great freedom.

K represents handles set into the side or sides of the-seat-back forshifting the back.

These handles are preferably arranged as close to the sliding bracketsand upper end of the rocking arms D as convenient for the hand and yetavoid striking the arm of the seat next to the aisle. If desired, ahandle K may be placed only on the aisle side of the seatbaok; but byhaving such a handle on both ends the seat-'back may be set upon thearms E with either end toward the aisle. The use of this handle Kenables the back to be reversed withont requiring the hand to grasp theupholstery, and hence avoids undue wear thereof. A further use of thishandle in its low position is to enable the power to be so applied tothe upper end of the rocker-arms D as to make them move freely, saidresult being secured by an upward and transverse pull upon the handle.In this Way the angle of the arms'D may be so oblique at the extremepositions of the back that they act somewhat as locks to prevent the toofree shifting of the back. This result may be secured, if desired, bythe proper designing of the parts. It has the advantage of preventingthe shifting of the back when a person in the rear seat puts his kneesagainst the back or otherwise puts a forward pressure upon itunintentionally and also of preventing too ready reversing of the backsby the passengers by making them believe that the back is locked inposition.

While some railroad companies desire that the seats shall be reversedeasily, others desire the use of locks to prevent the passengers fromreversing the seats or some means to prevent the too ready reversal atthe start. This latter feature may be excellently secured by the use ofmy invention, because the resistance to starting the movement oftheseatback may be made sufficient to secure the desired effect upon thepassengers.

The space between the cushion and end frames is undesirable in that itodors an opportunity for articles to slip down and become lost or 'toclog the Working parts. To overcome this objection, I provide automaticlids I for 'closing said space from above. These lids are preferablydivided into three parts and hinged at z', soas to fall when left tothemselves. To insure their closing positively, I prefer to provide asmall spring J,

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adapted to snap the lids down or horizontal when released. One of theselids is always held up by the sliding brackets E, as shown, and duringits travel it will sometimes hold two of the lids up. The brackets actas cams for raising and releasing the lids. Any other suitable means maybe employed to operate the lids in place of the brackets E, as,generically considered, it is immaterial to my invention how they areoperated.

While I prefer the constructions shown as being excellently adapted forthe purposes of my invention, I do not confine myself thereto, as thedetails may be modified without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Having now described my invention, what IZO Iclaim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isj l. In a car-seat, the combination ofthemain frame, transversely-adjustable guide-brackets at each end havingguide-arms at their upper parts, a seat-back adj ustablysupported uponthe guide-arms and movable with the guide-brackets, rocker-arms pivotedto the main frame and adjustably connected with the seat-back so as toraise the seat-hack on the guide-arms and then lower it during itsreversal.

2. In a car-seat, the combination of the main frame,transversely-adjustable guide-brackets at each end having guide-arms attheir upper parts, a seat-back ad j ustably supported upon -theguide-arms and movable with the guide-brackets, rocker-arms pivoted tothe main frame and adjustably and detachably connected with theseat-back so as to raise the seat-back on the guide-arms and then lowerit during its reversal.

3. In a car-seat, the combination of the main frame,transversely-adjustable guide-brack-v "ets at each end having guide-armsat their upper parts, a seat-back adjustably supported upon theguide-arms and movable with the guide-brackets, rocker-arms pivoted tothe main frame and adjustably connected with the seat-back so as toraise the seat-back on the guide-arms and then lower it during itsreversal, a shifting seat-cushion, and means connecting saidcushion withthe rocker-arms whereby the cushion is'shifted when reversing the back.

5. Ina car-seat, the combination ofthe main frame,transversely-adjustable guide-bracketsat each end having guide-arms attheir upper parts, a seatback adj ustably supportedv upon the guide-armsand movable with the guide-brackets, rocker-arms pivoted to theV mainframe and adjustably connected with the seat-back so as to raise theseat-back on the guide-arms and then lower it during its reversal,seat-cnshion-supporting arms having cam portions and a vertical slot, aseatcushion supported upon said cushion -supporting frames, andtransverse pins extending through the vertical slots of theseat-cushion-supporting frames and connected with therocker-arnis,Wherebythe seat-cushiop is simultaneously shifted when reversingtheseat-back.

6. In a car-seat, the combination of the main frame havingtransversely-arranged guides at each end,guidebrackets adjustablysuptical adjustment, and rocker-arms pivoted to the main frame andhaving their free ends movably connected with the seatback where-V bythe latter is 'elevated relatively to the transverse guides for thebrackets during its reversal.

7. In a car-seat,the combination of the main irame havingtransversely-arranged guides at each end, guide-brackets adj ustablysupported upon said guides, a seat-back carriedl by said guide-bracketswith provision for vertical adjustment, rocker-arms pivoted to the mainframe and having their free ends movably connected with the seat-backWhere- Y by the latter is elevated relatively to the transverse guidesfor the brackets duringits reversal, and a handle secured to the end ofthe seat-back adjacent to its connection with the rocker-arms andguide-,brackets whereby the back may be pulled upward at substantiallyright angles to the rocker-arms in starting the motion for reversal.

S. In a car-seat,the combination of the main frame, a shiftingseat-back, guiding devices for guiding the seat-back While being shiftedand supporting it in an upright and proper angular position, supportingdevices for lifting the seat-back on its guiding devices during itsreversal, and a handlearranged upon the end of theseat-back near itslower part so as to assist in lifting the back when in the IO. In acar-seat, the combination of theV main frame, transversely-movableguidebrackets having upwardly-directed guidearms connected thereto byslotted horizontal portions, rocker-arms pivoted to the main frame andprojecting upward through the slotted horizontal portions of theguide-brackets, and a jointed connection between the upper ends of saidrocker-arms and the seatback. n

1]. In a carseat, the combination of the main frame, the seat-cushion, amovable seat-back, upwardly-extending supporting parts for supportingthe seat-back and movable between the cushionY andend frameof the mainframe, and adjustable lids hinged to the main frame andadaptedtofolddownV IOO IIO

to close the space betweenv the end `frame of the'main frame and theseat-cushion.

l2. In a car-seat, the combination ofy the main frame, the seat, amovable `.seat-back,

upwardly extending supporting parts for supporting the seat-back andmovable between the cushion and end frame of the main frame, andspring-actuated adjustable lids hinged to the main frame and adapted t0fold down to close the space between the end frame of the main frame andthe seat-enshion and also adapted to be raised or lowered by thesupporting devices for the seat-back during their travel.

13. In a car-seat, the combination of the main frame, the seat-cushi0n,the seat-back, a series of adjustablyconnected lids arranged between theend of the main frame and the seat-cushion, and supporting devices forthe seat-back adapted to be moved between the cushion and end frame 0fthe main frame for moving the lids so as to permit said devices to passduring the reversal of the seat and the lids to be closed When clear ofthe said seat-back-supporting devices.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand.

HENRY s. HALE.

Witnesses:

JAMES A. MARTIN, GEO. H. RAPsoN.

